Additional reporting by Gabriel Morris, Local Democracy Reporter
Investigation works have finally started on a road shut for more than a year following a cliff collapse.
The A226 Galley Hill Road in Swanscombe has been shut since April last year following a landslide.
Frustrated residents have been pushing for action after being left counting the financial, emotional and physical costs related to the long closure.
Now, a digger has finally appeared onsite at the main thoroughfare between Swanscombe High Street and Ebbsfleet United’s Kufflink Stadium in Northfleet.
Chairman of Swanscombe and Greenhithe Residents Association (SGRA) Peter Harman said: “It’s good to see that at last, we have some further progress with Galley Hill Road.
“Kent County Council (KCC) has now been granted legal access to the southern side of the road by the landowner, and the specialist surveying contractors are on site today surveying the chalk spine under the roadway.
“We are still waiting on the two landowners on the northern side of the road to agree access arrangements with KCC.
“The SGRA will continue following this up to get the road fixed as soon as possible.”
It comes after similar works began today following two landslides on Folkestone’s Road of Remembrance.
Speaking on the Swanscombe development, a KCC spokesperson said: “KCC has been engaged in discussions with geotechnical engineers to determine what further investigations are required into the stability of the supporting cliff and temporary stabilisation works.
“We have now instructed a firm of specialist geotechnical engineers and structural contractors to carry out the first phase of necessary investigations and stabilisation works.
“Alongside the technical challenges posed by the collapse, the complexity of the site (including legal ownership and utility services) continues to require careful consideration.
“We know it has been a difficult year for residents and we want to assure them that we are seeking to finalise access arrangements for contractors to get on site as soon as possible.”
However, one landowner of the road said they are looking for “reasonable compensation” before sigining an agreement with KCC to allow contractors onto the site.
Jake Hughes, of demolition contractors Lancebox Ltd, which is based in Manor Way Business Park, which sits beneath Galley Hill, added: “The business has been impacted financially on many aspects.
“Outsourcing maintenance of vehicles is now a monthly costing which is not normal practice. Machinery has had to be moved to our crushing facility which has now impacted our ability to crush material and sell on.
“Internet availability is now unstable with multiple crashes each day which also takes down our phone lines, the business opportunities we may have missed are unknown.
“We are looking for reasonable compensation for what we have had to spend to keep our business afloat. The ball is back with KCC solicitors.”
He claimed there has been no communitcation from KCC regarding how the business is coping, adding he has only spoken to the local authority through its solictors.
Earlier this month residents waved placards and tooted horns in a protest marking one year since a major road collapsed.
A protest, dubbed an “unhappy birthday”, saw more than 50 residents turn up at the junction of Galley Hill Road and Swanscombe High Street to express their dissatisfaction at the lack of action since the road collapsed on April 10 last year.
Ongoing battles between KCC, Thames Water and land owners have seen no obvious progress made during the 12 months.
Residents say this has left them facing traffic misery including gridlocked roads, lack of buses and noisy, sleepless nights.
